Commitment in an Experimenting Society: A Study of the Attribution of Leadership from Administrative Scenarios.

Staw, Barry M.; Ross, Jerry

Journal of Applied Psychology, v65 n3 p249-60 Jun 1980

Results indicate that there is an implicit theory of leadership that encourages individuals to choose to remain committed to a dubious course of action because the opportunity to receive a positive evaluation is greater with consistency than with experimentation. (Author/IRT)